I’m under ‘zero pressure’, insists upbeat Scolari

LUIZ FELIPE SCOLARI showed no sign of feeling the strain ahead of a game which could cost Chelsea millions if results conspire against them.

Scolari’s side face Romanian minnows CFR Cluj at Stamford Bridge tonight knowing that only a victory will ensure them of a place in the knockout stages of the Champions League.

The Brazilian will be the first Chelsea manager to fail to reach the next level of the competition if Cluj pull off one of the surprise results of the season and Bordeaux beat Roma tonight.

Chelsea’s home form is less than sparkling with Scolari’s side having dropped 12 points in the Barclays Premier League but it remains untainted in Group A with victories over Bordeaux and group leaders Roma.

Despite the importance of tonight’s game, Scolari was quick to denounce any suggestion he was feeling the pace and claimed the pressure was nothing compared to managing Brazil.

Scolari said: “Do you know how many people live in Brazil? I was coach there and you think there is pressure here? It is zero pressure.

“This is only one more game. It is important for our qualification for the next phase. It is the same as other games because we need three points. If we win, we are in the next phase.

“It is not the most important game of the season – it is one more game.

“If we lose, then maybe we are out. It is possible. If we lose and we are out of the Champions League, I will not feel good. But no more than that. This is life, this is football.”

Much will depend on Scolari’s team formation and on whether he will consider changing his system to accommodate both Nicolas Anelka and Didier Drogba in attack.

He is already without injured Florent Malouda and suspended Frank Lampard, but his side will be compensated somewhat by a fit again Joe Cole. Yet Scolari was clearly trying to give nothing away when quizzed about the possible use of both strikers or opting to switch from his normal 4-3-3 to 4-4-2 against the Romanians.

“When we have time to train more with these two players and I have confidence for my system with two strikers, I will use two strikers,” said Scolari. “But tomorrow, I don’t know.”

Chelsea’s shaky progress through Group A has also underlined the importance of defender Ricardo Carvalho. The Portugal centre-half has featured in just one of their five European games so far because of a knee injury and it is clear they have missed him.

Carvalho is not due back until Christmas at the earliest because, unlike previous managers, Scolari refuses to rush his players back for fear of crippling them in later life.

“Some players play 60 games a season for their club and national teams and sometimes they do so with little injuries that turn into big ones in later years,” said Scolari.

“But if they are not in good condition, I don’t want them to play because when they get older maybe they have a problem caused by me.”